A dog (canis familiaris) and a coyote (canis latrans) will readiliy mate in captivity and their offspring are healthy and fully fertile. Are we justified in saying they are distinct species? What might this tell us about the history of dogs and coyotes?
I believe coydogs are considered hybrids of two separate species. They do not normally mate in the wild because they are normally born in very different parts of the year. (If a wild animal were born in the winter like most dogs are, the chances of survival would be slim). It would seem that they have a common ancestor not terribly far removed.
